ORMS Zambia

Orms Zambia 6 day tour

Orms Photo Safaris are all custom safaris only with no fixed dates, cost or pre-assigned guide.

All photographic gear is customized for you and included in tour package

Please note:

All our Zambia photo tours are customized and booked on demand only. Orms does not currently offer any scheduled tours to Zambia but will instead happily design a tailor-made photographic safari to this destination according to your specific requests and requirements.

Day 1:

Arrival Zambia

After arrival in Zambia and after clearing passport control and customs, you will be transferred to the beautiful Lilayi Lodge where you will spend the night enjoying the comfort and warm hospitality of this enchanting property. Established in 1988 and enveloped in rich cultural history, the game farm consists of a 1606 acre plot of land situated within the Miller Lilayi Farm. As a family owned business, Lilayi has been in the Miller family for over 100 years, which has seen the original farmhouse registered as a Zambian Heritage House in 1996.

The deluxe chalets consist of an open plan, en suite bedroom with a lovely furnished lounge, and bathroom boasts a Victoria Albert Volcanic Limestone soaker bath and a spacious shower. The folding bay windows in the bedroom open up to a wooden deck that offer beautiful views of the lodge surrounds. Photographic Leader Marius Coetzee will be on hand tonight to meet the group and discuss the upcoming adventure in detail!

Overnight Lilayi Lodge

Day 2:

Depart Lusaka International for South Luangwa National Park

After breakfast we will be transported back to the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport for our flight to Mfuwe, which is known as the gateway to the Luangwa Valley (please note that we have a drive of roughly 3 hours from Mfuwe through communal land and the national park to Kaingo Camp).

The South Luangwa National Park covers approximately 9,050 square kilometres of the Luangwa Valley floor, which varies in elevation from 500m to 800m above sea level. Experts have dubbed South Luangwa as one of the most spectacular wildlife sanctuaries in the world, and for good reason – the wildlife densities around the Luangwa River and its oxbow lagoons during the dry season are amongst the highest in Africa, and offer mind-blowing photographic opportunities.

After check in and lunch we will depart on our first afternoon safari in search of South Luangwa’s famous residents. South Luangwa National Park has to be one of the best places in the world for visitors who want an authentic African photo safari!

Overnight Kaingo Camp

After breakfast we will be transported back to the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport for our flight to Mfuwe, which is known as the gateway to the Luangwa Valley (please note that we have a drive of roughly 3 hours from Mfuwe through communal land and the national park to Kaingo Camp).

The South Luangwa National Park covers approximately 9,050 square kilometres of the Luangwa Valley floor, which varies in elevation from 500m to 800m above sea level. Experts have dubbed South Luangwa as one of the most spectacular wildlife sanctuaries in the world, and for good reason – the wildlife densities around the Luangwa River and its oxbow lagoons during the dry season are amongst the highest in Africa, and offer mind-blowing photographic opportunities.

After check in and lunch we will depart on our first afternoon safari in search of South Luangwa’s famous residents. South Luangwa National Park has to be one of the best places in the world for visitors who want an authentic African photo safari!

Overnight Kaingo Camp

Days 3 to 6:

Kaingo Camp, South Luangwa National Park

Overlooking the Luangwa River deep within the prime area of the South Luangwa National Park, Kaingo’s relaxed, personal and friendly atmosphere offers its guests fantastic game-viewing opportunities within an area of incredible beauty and varied terrain.

The Luangwa River is the most intact major river system in Africa and is the life blood of the park; it is not dammed anywhere, has no industrial development on its banks and only supports subsistent agriculture in areas outside the park.

The woodland and floodplain habitat surrounding the river is phenomenal and supports a huge variety of game, including Elephant, Cape Buffalo, Zebra, Puku, Impala, Greater Kudu, Thornicroft’s Giraffe and Common Waterbuck. Kaingo have identified 10 different Leopard around the camp, and as unpredictable as these felines can be, an incredible 95% of guests get to see and photograph these stunning cats during a safari here! There are also two very strong Lion prides in the area, which have been named the Mwamba Pride and the Hollywood pride – the latter so named due to the vast amount of time documentary filmmakers have spent following them. Game drives are conducted both by day and night on specially modified game drive vehicles, and give us the opportunity to photograph the Lion and Leopard, while additional targets include Spotted Hyaena and African Wild Dog.

A further feature of, and one of the main elements that make photography at Kaingo so special are the photographic hides. These hides are often used by National Geographic and BBC photographers as they provide a unique up-close-and-personal view into the lives of the animals, enabling guests to photograph them undisturbed in their natural environment. The hides are well equipped for the needs of photographers, as they provide specialist bean bags, dust covers and even charging facilities. Species targeted include Hippo, Elephant, and from September, the spectacular Southern Carmine Bee-eater colony that is overrun with the wash of colours and sounds of the breeding birds.

“One of the wonderful features of Derek Shenton’s camps is the network of blinds he sets up each year to allow close-up views of hippos, elephants, and the other wildlife. From his hippo hide, hidden in a corner of the Luangwa River, you are close enough to feel as if you are part of the pod – a truly unique perspective that is both a tribute to Derek’s ingenuity and to his superb knowledge of the Luangwa Valley” Frans Lanting – National Geographic

Built and run by Derek Shenton, son of Barry Shenton – former ranger in Luangwa and warden of Kafue National Park – Kaingo has many attributes from the Shenton family ranging from the camps stylish design and practical layout to the local farm produce. The large centrally located open-sided sitting room includes a dining area, library and Kaingo’s renowned thousand-year-old lead-wood bar. Nestled discretely apart on the banks of the river, Kaingo’s chalets were designed with the sole purpose of transporting you safely into the world of the Luangwa without a single distraction.

Large fly-wired windows provide stunning views of the river; and the complete absence of generator noise (solar power is used in preference) means nothing but the wheeze-honk of a Hippo interferes with the sounds of a Lions roar, a Leopards call or the early morning ‘drumming’ of the Southern Ground Hornbill. In addition to the indoor ensuite bathroom, each chalet has a stunning outdoor bathtub with shady views of a pod of Hippo. A special feature of Kaingo are the unique individual decks built out over the river in front of each chalet. From this relaxing vantage point one can view game coming down to drink, basking Hippos, various aquatic birds, Nile Crocodile fishing, and the daily Elephant river crossings.

Nights Kaingo Camp

Day 7:

Kaingo to Mfuwe and depart to Lusaka

Today is our final morning in the celebrated South Luangwa Valley before we transfer back to Mfuwe Airport. We will depart on light aircraft back to Lusaka where the tour concludes.

Today is our final morning in the celebrated South Luangwa Valley before we transfer back to Mfuwe Airport. We will depart on light aircraft back to Lusaka where the tour concludes.

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About Orms

Orms has been a leader in photographic services and the go-to place for South African photographers since 1996. We have taken our photographic expertise, service record, professional staff and our close relationship with many of the world’s best photographers to create Orms Photographic Tours, a photographic travel company that reflects the Orms proficiency and reputation. Our experience guides our selection and planning of bespoke photographic journeys, which ensure unique photographic experiences - whether cultural or in the wild - as well as quality accommodation.